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Golden: Longhorns vs. Aggies in the NIT?

The Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies could be all dressed up for the Big Dance with no invitation to come on Selection Sunday.
So why not just play each one another?

The Aggies didn’t bother to show up in the second half their SEC Tournament clash with the Auburn Tigers, blowing a 10-point lead losing 66-59 to a that entered the game with a 13-19 record and only four wins in conference.
The Longhorns led for all but one second of their Big 12 quarterfinal matchup with Iowa State but blew a 16-point lead and were outscored 12-0 over the last four minutes. While Texas has a better argument for inclusion into the NCAA Tournament, it’s possible the 69-67 loss killed their chances to make the 68-team field which might all but end Rick Barnes’ tenure in Austin.
Sure Texas still played the 15th toughest schedule in the country and entered the Iowa State with an RPI of 41 but is that enough to get in for a 20-13 team?

Which brings us to the point of the discussion: could we see the Aggies and Longhorns at the Erwin Center for the first round of the NIT? It’s possible, given the close proximity of the schools and the gate it would draw.
It’s not the The Big Dance but count me one who wouldn’t mind seeing the Aggies visit Austin in a team sporting event for the first time in what seems like forever. They haven’t met on a basketball court since the 2011 Big 12 Tourney where Texas completed a 3-0 season sweep of A&M with a 70-58 win.
The NCAA bids go out on Sunday and don’t be surprised to see these longtime rivals stuck on the outside looking in. If that happens, why not recreate an old rivalry that’s given us some nice moments in the past?

Even if it’s just the NIT.

Shoot, if the football teams can’t get together, we’ll take the next best thing.

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